News Archive - 2008

The Duke is dead, long live The Duke. I knew him best as the villian of Escape From New York. But Isaac Hayes has many noteworthy accomplishments in music, film and tv. It was a neat in-joke to cast Chef from South Park as Chef in Return To Sleepaway Camp - but it'll be with a tinge of sadness I'll watch the character's probable death scene in the film.

A small six degrees of Sleepaway seperation for you, Isaac also acted in Michael Simpson's Dead Aim (1987).

Isaac joins Robert Earl Jones (Assistant Cook Ben in Sleepaway Camp) Mike Kellin (Mel) and Walter Gotell (Uncle John in Unhappy Campers) in the pantheon of iconic male players in SC to depart us.
 

Nothing to worry about just yet. Amazon now list Return as releasing on, drumroll... October 21st. That's just approximately one week after the originally announced date. Tweaks of this nature are to be expected for any film, and it's possible it could change a little more before it stabilizes, but rest assured - it's coming!
 

Amazon posted cover art for Return To Sleepaway Camp! Some slight disc details, it looks like the release will be in the 2.35:1 screen ratio (read: super widescreen). Don't forget to pre-order your copy today!

Quite possibly one of the coolest Sleepaway collectible ever, one I never knew existed. I'm kicking myself for missing it on Ebay, but am glad it went to a true fan, Devon, who kindly shared pics below. It's a promotional first aid kit from 1984 for the original Sleepaway Camp home video release (from Media Home Entertainment). It contains real items: aspirin packets, bandaids, wet wipe, first aid cream, antacid tablets, and a hidden slip of paper that reads: "HELP!".

As soon as the early Return To Sleepaway Camp trailer was released the other day, I started compiling my thoughts, and now you can find them all below complete with screencap highlights:

Continue Reading: Return To Sleepaway Camp Trailer (Review)
 

Just a small snippet, looks like the RTSC DVD will be Widescreen and have a Spanish subtitles option.
 

Now that there's a firm release date for the film, Michael Gingold's set visit article on Return To Sleepaway Camp will finally see the light of day in Fangoria #277, on sale in September.
 

I've just discovered that Return To Sleepaway Camp has a distributor in Magnolia Pictures Home Entertainment, who are releasing the DVD on Tuesday October 14th, 2008! And pre-ordering has opened on Amazon.com - that's right, it's not a mirage - 5 years after the sequel was shot, it's finaly coming home to the fans who have endured the wait. Magnolia are an established indie film distributor and released 2006's slasher pic Severance, so it looks like the Robert Hiltzik written/directed sequel is finally in the right hands. The early skinny: R-Rated. 98 minutes running time. NTSC disc. Retail price is a hefty $26.98, but if you grab it off Amazon it's only $19.99. I was likely the first to pre-order, now it's your turn! Click below.

Today I added an additional piece to Articles, sourced from The Atlanta Journal Constitution circa 1987. It was published while Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers was filming, but was about the soon-to-shoot Sleepaway Camp 3: Teenage Wasteland. A great opportunity to see how the films were then-perceived!

Continue Reading: Lock Up The Kids, 3rd Sleepaway Sequel Set
 

This from Felissa Rose's MySpace: "Well, I was just told that Return to Sleepaway Camp will be out on DVD in October. Sounds pretty good, from a reliable source. I will post more info as I receive it." As always, we'll have to just wait and see. Although five years later, we've had too much waiting and not enough seeing!
 

	3 x New Berserk Storyboards
	Jun 24, 2008

Thanks for your patience, here are the next 3 x Sleepaway Camp Berserk storyboards. As always, you can find alongside them actual passages from the script. Heading towards the end of the line now...

	Rodney Whittenberg Interview
	May 01, 2008

For those of you who don't know, Rodney Whittenberg is the composer of Return To Sleepaway Camp. His experience and skills promise to bring the musical composition of Angela's mayhem to new levels. In this exclusive interview, Rodney discusses his work on the film and shares 2 cues from the film in mp3 form!

Continue Reading: Rodney Whittenberg Interview
 

	Sleepaway Camp Reunion 3D Poster & Info
	Apr 01, 2008

Poster/info courtesy of White Knuckle Entertainment:

"This high-camp horror franchise has a huge cult following and numerous fan websites dedicated to it. This latest sequel, Sleep Away Camp, The Reunion 3D, promises to thrill its large fan base by raising the fright level with spine-tingling stereoscopic 3D effects. It is sure to create a frenzy of anticipation on the internet and lends itself to viral marketing strategies. Based on the success of the first film, and the success of our production partners Thomas van Dell and Hudson Canyon Group, with strong fan interest in the franchise, distribution for our new 3D sequel has already been obtained through Magnolia Productions."

The company also mentions Drake Bell as starring.

	Gorezone UK Magazine Article
	Mar 09, 2008

Here is that magazine article from Gorezone UK I mentioned a while back. This is posted with permission by the author Christian Sellers who did a great job covering the franchise. There's interviews with Michael Simpson and Felissa Rose, some Return stuff, and even a chat with me about the Berserk script.

	New Fan Script
	Mar 08, 2008

The Fan Fiction section gets a new addition today courtesy of William Dudley. Hit that here.

	So Begins Endgame?
	Mar 05, 2008

I asked Return To Sleepaway Camp producer Tom Van Dell if he could clarify what is really going on. As we've learnt over the years, nothing will ever be set in stone until you actually get to see the flick, but here is his reply. He also mentioned in an earlier exchange that a distributor was finalized at Cannes.

"The film is done and we are already moving forward on the development of Sleepaway Camp Reunion which will be filmed in 2D and 3D later this year... that is the real story. Look for two versions of Return to Sleepaway Camp out this summer. First the camper’s edition late summer and then the limited extra footage and commentary edition for Halloween. We will also do select major market screenings in theaters throughout the summer."
 

	CLGraffix Tshirts
	Mar 04, 2008

Just a friendly reminder as this news got cut off after the design upgrade - Top horror shirt manufacturer CLC Graffix have created two t-shirts based around the Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers & Sleepaway Camp 3: Teenage Wasteland video art. Like our own camp shirts these are sold with the permission of the powers that be. The shirt art is illustrated by one of my personal writing heroes, legendary horror critic Chas Balun. Be sure to pick your poison and buy one of these (or both!).

	Felissa Rose As Carrie
	Feb 26, 2008

You know Sleepaway Camp has achieved true cultdom when one of its stars get to spoof their own character. That's exactly what has happened in Dave Campfield's follow up to Dark Chamber, Caesar And Otto's Summer Camp Massacre. It's a camp slasher spoof and lays the Sleepaway satire on thick, in its casting of Felissa Rose as "Carrie", who is practically Angela right down to the bone - literally, as characters mention she supposedly has a weiner. Additional connections are the casting of Deron Miller (CKY, RTSC, Rose's hubby) and uncle of Renee Estevez, Joe Estevez. Check the trailer out and for release info, Camp Motion Pictures. If you're all hankering for some Angela action, this'll fit the bill.

	Birds Of A Feather
	Feb 22, 2008

The 2000 short film starring Felissa Rose, Birds Of A Feather is back online via the director's YouTube (part one - part two). If you ever wanted to know what Angela would act like all grown up...
 

	Updated Design
	Feb 10, 2008

I uploaded a new design for the site today, be sure to shoot me any thoughts or constructive criticism via email or the forum. I tend to update the design at least once a year in the interests of keeping it fresh.
 

	Outta Control & Sleep Away
	Feb 9, 2008

While I've been busy prepping both a new site design and some more Berserk materials, I had to take time out to drop word in of this: the final "lost" SC2 & 3 soundtrack songs have been unleashed by the musician himself John Altyn! Outta Control, which played during Ally & Rob's bathroom tryst has never been heard in its entirety, nor has the Teenage Wasteland end credits track Sleep Away which lost a lengthy opening buildup. Visit John's album label's MySpace below and listen away:

http://www.myspace.com/trilithonproductionsllc
 

	Sleepaway In Print
	Jan 18, 2008

Check out Gorezone #27, out throughout Jan. It's a UK mag but gets pretty decent distribution throughout the world via joints like Borders. This issue features a Sleepaway Camp article by Christian Sellers that contains interviews with Michael, Felissa, and your friendly neighborhood webmaster.
 

	Return/Reunion Exclusive News
	Jan 17, 2008

The question "What is up with Return To Sleepaway Camp?" has brought vague answers over the years. SleepawayCampFilms recently contacted several producers from the flick and asked for the 411 on your, the fans, behalf. Thank you to all those who took part, fans may sleep a little safer after this, having a better idea what the year may hold. Joe Nicolo, executive producer, answered "All I can tell you is what I know. The film is finally done and is being shopped now." Jonathan Sachar, executive producer, elaborated "the delay on Sleep was the color correction which has been complete and the score, which we were not happy with so it took an extra 6-8 months to get the score right... tighten up the edit... (which was way too long) the film is finally in shape". And finaly, producer Tom Van Dell had the following to say, and dropped a few bombs I'm allowed to share early:

"We have been busy selling the film and have three credible big studio offers on hand and will be meeting with those peeps next week at Sundance to make our final distributor selection. The film is done and ready for release. Fans will certainly see it within this year!!!!! Kerner Optical (formerly Industrial Light and Magic, of George Lucas fame) will be debuting the trailer for the film in addition to MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT that they are producing FX for the next and what Robert and I consider the third part of the original SC trilogy which will be shot in both 2D and 3D. Yes, Sleepaway Camp 3 in 3D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be stellar. We will be holding a contest soon for fans to create one of the 3D killings that will feature in the third installment. The tag line for SC 3 – 3D will be “From Sleeping Bags to Body Bags…You’ve Never Had This Much Fun Being Scared…in 3D!”"